Historical Quarries of Sandstones in Barichara and Guasca, Sources of Colombian Heritage Buildings

Abstract

Stones were and are important resources to heritage buildings of Colombian villages and cities. Sandstones from the Upper Cretaceous age were, in the Colonial Hispanic Period, crucial building stones in the Eastern Andean region of Colombia. These stones are still important building materials to façades, external and internal walls, and paving, in recent and modern constructions from Bogotá, Tunja and other big Colombian cities. Historical quarries have been identified in localities such Barichara and Guasca, where the quarrying activity was extensive in the 19th and early 20th centuries. This work details the geological features and the history of sandstone quarries in both places. The first aim of this work is to revive the historical sandstones quarries used in the construction of most important monuments and historical places of cities like Barichara, Bogotá and Tunja. The second aim is to promote the knowledge and sustainable conservation of historical quarries from Barichara and Guasca like cultural heritage to Colombia. Thus, it will enable the economic development of local communities using built heritage linked to heritage stones. The quarries of Barichara and Guasca will be the source of sandstones for possible future restorations of historical buildings of the Eastern Andean Region. This extractive activity will ensure the sustainable use of historic quarries and will promote the environmental economics related to geotourism.